Welcome to this space for the promotion of knowledge generated by the Universitat de València and the Regional Ministry of Participation, Transparency, Cooperation and Democratic Quality of the Valencian Government.

The main objective of this Observatory on the Digital Transformation of the Public Sector is to bring together the best experts in the field to make all the knowledge we generate in the academic world more visible and accessible.

Through blog articles and videos such as this one, a multidisciplinary group of professionals in the field and with the necessary impetus from both institutions, will disseminate the new advances achieved in the necessary digital transformation of the Administration.

The Universitat de València has been, is and will always be working for a better public service through the essential and undeniable process of digitalisation in order to achieve a better democratic governance of the institution and the society in which it is imbricated, making one of its founding pillars a reality.

The work carried out by the PAGODA Open Government, Participation and Open Data Chair, as a result of the agreement signed with the Regional Ministry and which, from now on, will benefit from this observatory led by Professor Lorenzo Cotino, is particularly noteworthy.

It is important to bear in mind that the concept of Open Government refers to transparency and participation, but it also includes a very important element of technological innovation that contributes to achieving a more democratic, transparent, efficient and sustainable public sector.

In the context of the Digital Spain 2025 plan, which will be the subject of attention by Spain's top specialists in this space, it is important that public administration adheres to data-driven criteria, with personalised services for citizens. In addition, the modernisation of processes and the adaptation of channels must be carried out, which implies a more efficient and secure use for citizens and companies, more personalised services, and a simpler, more proactive and collaborative Public Administration in the search for the best practices and solutions to the problems that arise.

It is certain that the contributions of this observatory, which is also coordinated by professors Joaquín Martín Cubas and Jorge Castellanos, will address the many facets of the phenomenon of digitalisation, thus making a strong commitment to innovation in the public sector, and positioning the university, the Valencian Government and the Valencian region as leaders in this sector of knowledge and innovation.

L’Observatori que posa a la vostra disposició la Càtedra de Govern Obert, Participació i Open Data és una eina útil que servirà tant per contribuir a l’anàlisi de l’evolució de la digitalització en el sector públic com per a la seua divulgació.

Es produeix, a més, en un moment interessant, perquè ens enfrontem ara al repte de completar la implantació de l’administració electrònica havent de superar al mateix temps l’escull que suposa l’escletxa digital, amb els efectes que pot produir d’exclusió de part de la nostra ciutadania per les seues dificultats d’accés als coneixements o els mitjans que requereix l’actual procés d’innovació tecnològica.

En aquest sentit, aquest Observatori permetrà posar a l’abast del conjunt de la ciutadania el coneixement i l’experiència acumulada per diversos especialistes i professionals en matèries com l’obertura de dades per a la seua reutilització en la creació de nous productes i aplicacions, l’ús de la intel·ligència artificial per a la millora en la prestació de serveis o l’ús de les tecnologies de la informació per al foment de la participació i la transparència en la gestió.

En definitiva, el tractament de totes aquestes qüestions des de diversos àmbits i perspectives multidisciplinars contribuirà a millorar tant la informació com la formació en competències digitals, però també a una millor comprensió dels problemes que se’n deriven. La situació de pandèmia en què ens trobem actualment ha avançat i ha accelerat el procés de digitalització amb efectes que encara estan per descobrir en el seu complet recorregut i que afecten diferents àrees de la nostra vida social, des de l’oci i l’entreteniment a les exigències de la producció i el mercat laboral, passant per les comunicacions interpersonals i les necessitats educatives i sanitàries de la població. Ens trobem en un moment de canvi que requereix el desenvolupament d’unes capacitats digitals que servisquen per contribuir a una societat més cohesionada, justa i equilibrada.

Aquesta és la finalitat que han de perseguir les polítiques públiques, i en aquest objectiu s’emmarca el conveni de col·laboració de la Conselleria de Participació, Transparència, Cooperació i Qualitat Democràtica i la Universitat de València, per al funcionament de la Càtedra PAGODA, fruit del qual naix aquest Observatori.

As co-director of the PAGODA Chair, I am pleased to welcome the launch of the Observatory for the Digital Transformation of the Public Sector, whose main objective is to contribute to the shaping of a better public service from the administration and governments through the digitisation of our communications and administrative processes, while achieving better democratic governance that counts on everyone.

The PAGODA Open Government, Participation and Open Data Chair is the result of an agreement between the Universitat de València and the Regional Ministry of Transparency, Social Responsibility, Participation and Cooperation of the Valencian Government. Its main objective is to promote, develop and carry out research, dissemination, training and knowledge transfer to society in relation to the fields of transparency, citizen participation and open government; and to do so through an interdisciplinary approach that brings together ethical, political, social, legal and technical considerations related to open data and new information and communication technologies applied to the management of government and social problems.

In relation to all these issues and from these perspectives, since 2016 the Chair has been promoting research projects, national and international conferences, monographs, monographic journals, guides, methodological conferences, training courses and seminars, meetings, electronic applications at the service of open government... All these initiatives are now joined by this Observatory for the Digital Transformation of the Public Sector with the intention of taking a further step in the consolidation of a change of model in the governance of our societies, a more inclusive and participatory model, but also one that is more effective, efficient and sustainable. After all, the ultimate goal of the Chair is to help improve the performance of our democratic institutions by contributing to the development of a political culture that is more open to citizen participation and to the accountability and responsibility of public sector decision-makers. The Observatory is a singularly important tool in the pursuit of this objective and is undoubtedly destined to have a major impact on transforming the way we conduct our public affairs.

Joaquín Martín Cubas